This WWE Promo Raises Existential Questions About Wrestlers' Health

Earlier this week, two wrestling stars got in a heated debate that may have went off script. As seen in the video above, WWE Intercontinental Champion and perennially heel The Miz berated fan-favorite Daniel Bryan for being too risky with his health in the ring. Bryan, who gave an emotional farewell about six months ago after concussions forced a premature retirement, walked off the set in disgust, leaving fans to ponder if The Miz had really hit too close to home.

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Wrestling fans love speculating when fiction is blending into reality. Conspiracy theories still abound about the time WCW producer Vince Russo grabbed the mic and called Hulk Hogan a "goddamn politician" and a "piece of shit," an event that occurred 16 years ago. So when Bryan appears to be genuinely upset here, he's creating great buzz for WWE. The brand benefits when non-wrestling publications like Washington Post chime in:

But because neither performer has mentioned the ordeal on their social media accounts (a custom that has become routine for story line purposes), there's a chance the words exchanged between the two were actually very real. There's a chance Bryan really did walk off the set in disgust after the Miz brought up his injuries."

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The Miz criticizing Bryan for being too risky is a genius dick move, because Bryan's popularity was driven by his recklessness. Fans loved that Bryan was constantly diving between the ropes, doing high-flying maneuvers, and in general, putting his body on the line.

The Miz, meanwhile, adopts a more bland and less risky style. In the promo, Bryan says The Miz's cautious style makes him a "coward" who "is afraid to get hit." The Miz responds, "The reason I wrestle the way I wrestle is because I can do it day in and day out all the time for 10-plus years... I don't get injured for six months to a year."

Whether the argument is staged or not, The Miz brings up an interesting point--the incentives of wrestlers and fans don't always align. Most fans want to see exciting and daring wrestling. Wrestlers can give that to them, but they do so at their own risk given their high rates of early death and ridiculous lack of worker rights. These same fans don't want to see wrestling that is dull, conventional, or slow-paced. But wrestlers who want to stay healthy and have long careers need to be careful of how many bumps they're taking.

As Kotaku's Stephen Totiloput it, the promo really boils down to a "philosophical debate of whether it's better to blaze briefly or burn long."